Country
Furniture - the Living Areas

As
with all things country, it depends very much on the look you are
after and the furniture then gets picked based on your tastes. If
you are after Victorian English prim and proper country furniture
then the eventual 'look' would vary vastly from an Amish style country
look which is spartan and minimalist. Or you could go somewhere
totally different with a stamp on your very own country living style.
It's all about comfort and what you are happy with. I'm
particularly partial to the Amish country look but that's because
I prefer the less is more look and I have kids!

The
Fireplace

There
is nothing more country than
a roaring hearth on a chilly
autumn or winter's night. Starting
a wood fire is an art in itself
but once acquired, it will take
you just moments to get one
going and watch as everyone
congregates around it. The
fireplace is a focal piece in
a country living room, so the
general rule for decor

is
to
arrange your living room furniture
a comfortable distance from
it to emphasize cosiness and
encourage conversation. A
firescreen
is a must for safety - don't
skimp on that, embers
will fly and spit a fair way
out from the fire. Other
must haves include your usual
fireplace
tool sets
and some place to stack your
wood indoors - wood
storage racks
are great. Hearth
rugs
are those special fire retardant
rugs that protect your floors
from ash marks (particularly
important if you have wooden
floors). They are usually
a semi-circle in shape and are
decorative in their own right.

Country
Furniture Selection

The
Chateau Labelle is French country
furniture at its best. Featuring
classically French rolled arms
and plush cushions, it's an
asset to any living room if
you are after some 'oohlala'
charm.

Furniture
with loose cushions like this
Old Hickory Furniture is great
for those messy spills that
inevitably occur when you have
children in the house. Most
cushion covers can be washed
and if they start looking a
bit tatty, then make new ones
and voila, new look!

After
a floral look? Don't overdo
it. Big floral prints
look great when used well but
if you have too many floral
accents in the room ie in the
curtains, on the rugs etc then
it can get a tad overpowering.
I prefer dainty prints
that don't shout 'Look at me'
but add hints of prettiness
throughout the room.

Wicker
baskets are useful and tasteful
additions to the country living
room. Store away all those
little knick knacks and keep
the room uncluttered. This
one stores away those all important
umbrellas, your slippers for
a neat presentable finish.

Is
there anything more irresistable
than a rocking chair? This
lovely Shaker rocking chair
has my thumbs up for lovely
craftsmanship coupled with unique
country style. Just sit
back, relax and let the world
run without you for an hour
or two.